Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution MiEV (short for Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electric Vehicle) could well be the quietest, quickest production car sprint ever.

This review was first published in MOTOR magazine’s January 2007 issue.

With only the whir of electric motors and tyre noise audible, it scoots from standstill to 100km/h in under seven seconds and has a top speed of 185km/h. No, it’s not as quick as its petrol-slurping turbocharged brother, but that’s not the point.

The MiEV may look like a standard Evo with a WRC-spec wing and 20-inch BBS rims, but pop the bonnet or peek behind those wheels and you’ll soon realise that this is a very different beast.

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The second surprise is in the engine bay; it’s empty. Apart from a backpack-sized inverter mounted down low, and another in the boot, the engine room looks deserted. These inverters draw electric power from the 18 lithium-ion battery cells cleverly fitted under the floor and channel juice to the in-wheel motors, with the front inverter driving the fronts and the boot-mounted inverter powering the rears.

The company does say, however, that it plans to reduce overall weight by as much as 100kg through downsizing batteries, magnets and motors, while maintaining current power levels. That will also help to improve the car’s range, which stands at just 250km on one charge. That’s about what you you get out of a regular Evo if you’re one for fanging around, though…

There is no transmission loss with electric cars, just lightning fast throttle response; it, along the lack of noise, really takes a while to get used to. The ride is harsh, thanks to the low-profile 20-inch Dunlop SP Sport Maxx rubber.

Sadly, the Evo’s masterful AWD technology and tricky ACD and Super-AYC traction control systems haven’t been translated to the electric car. “That comes later,” said Tsutsumi.

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With the breathtaking speed that this technology is hurtling along at, along with the obvious advantages that electric power provides (huge torque, instant response and no emissions), the Evo MiEV could be the start of something very special.

Fast Facts – 2007 Mitsubishi Evo MiEV

ENGINE: Four in-wheel electric motors, twin inverters, Li-ion batteries POWER: 200kW TORQUE: 518Nm WEIGHT: 1590kg 0-100km/h: sub 7 seconds (claimed) TOP SPEED: 185km/h

LIKE: A startling peek into a green high performance future. DISLIKE: Limited range at present, and will need to lose weight RATING: 3.5 out of 5 stars